NEYMAR has spoken out after signing a new contract with PSG, by saying he wants to play with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile Sergio Aguero reportedly wants a move to Barcelona this summer – but boss Ronald Koeman is keen to bag former Man Utd man Memphis Depay.
And a mooted swap deal between Chelsea’s Jorginho and Miralem Pjanic could be back on after the Bosnian’s stuttering season at Barcelona.
Finally, Man City are celebrating after Leicester’s win at Man Utd confirmed them as Premier League champions.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
MIRACLE ESCAPE
Lyon ace Jean Lucas was involved in a terrifying car crash that saw him flip his motor – but incredibly escaped with minor injuries.
The 22-year-old Brazilian, who is on loan with Brest, was treated at the scene by emergency services before being taken to hospital.
According to Le Telegramme, ‘witnesses saw a motorist in a Mercedes drive in the left lane, swerve, then roll over, before finishing on the central reservation’.
Lucas was the only person in the car and no other vehicles were involved in the accident.
UNITED FRONT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made ten changes for Manchester United’s defeat to Leicester City on Tuesday night.
Just 48 hours later they are set to face Liverpool in their re-scheduled fixture on Thursday evening.
Here is how we think they will line-up.
MOYES’ FAVOURITE
West Ham captain Mark Noble has revealed Jesse Lingard is David Moyes’ favourite player at the club.
And the Hammer skipper revealed new signing Jesse Lingard is currently the Scot’s No1 man.
Noble said: “Jessie Lingard at the minute, mate. They live in the same apartment block as well. The gaffer loves it as well.
“Jessie will be with all of us and the gaffer will go like, ‘Jess, thanks for bringing me that bottle of wine the other night!’. Jess will just swallow his adam’s apple, he won’t have a comeback.”
Credit: EPA
KAHN’T IMAGINE
Bayern Munich hero Oliver Kahn claims the Bundesliga champions can’t sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland in the summer.
Kahn, who will replace Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as CEO later this year, believes the prospect of Bayern spending over €100million (£86m) for a player is “unimaginable”.
The club director told Bild: “Sorry, whoever spoke about that didn’t understand the situation.
“A package that costs – as we heard – over €100m is unimaginable for FC Bayern at the moment.”
This works as a big transfer boost for Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona who’ve been keeping tabs on Haaland
ESL PENALTIES
As reported earlier, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are now under UEFA investigation for their involvement in the suspended European Super League project.
The three elite clubs are facing a two-year ban from Champions League football unless they agree to give up on their controversial ESL plans.
Last month, 12 clubs – including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City – attempted to break away and form this closed competition but nine of them pulled back and signed a declaration with UEFA promising that if they ever try to break away they will be fined €100million (£86m).
However, Real, Barca and Juve are not giving up on their plans and thus an investigation has been launched that could lead to a two-year ban from UEFA’s top competition and subsequently a £100m loss per year
KROENKE STANCE
Arsenal staff have been informed that the Kroenke family are not intending to sell the club despite all the fan dissatisfaction.
That is according to The Athletic, who claim the announcement was made during an all- staff call on Monday.
This poses as a major blow for Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek, who is trying to buy the club with the help of Invincibles legends Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Gunners supporters have staged two protests against majority shareholder Stan Kroenke’s ownership after the European Super League fiasco and are planning another one on their final Premier League match of the season against Brighton on May 23.
BERTRAND STATEMENT
Southampton ace Ryan Bertrand has announced that he will leave St Mary’s when his contract expires in the summer.
Bertrand has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal and AC Milan, who will now weigh up their options.
The defender shared the following statement:
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Arsenal face Chelsea tonight at Stamford Bridge in a last-ditch effort to climb up a few Premier League spots and advance for either the Europa League or Conference League next season.
However, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the Gunners will be without David Luiz, who is dealing with a hamstring problem and thus won’t be able to face his former team.
Arteta also said he has some other injuries to contend with but didn’t drop any names.
The Arsenal boss said: “There were some issues over the weekend again. We are playing every three days and there is no time to train yet, [Tuesday] is the first day so we will have to wait and see”
SANCHO PUSH
Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho is pushing his agent to secure a transfer in the summer.
That is according to Manchester Evening News, who claim that Sancho felt let down that his representative Emeka Obasi failed to engineer a move to United following protracted negotiations.
This comes after reports suggesting that United want to land the star winger before the summer’s delayed Euro 2020 competition.
Dortmund are reportedly open on letting the England international go for a cut-price after making a “gentlemen’s agreement” with him that would allow him to leave if certain conditions were met
GETTY IMAGES
UEFA ACTION
UEFA have opened a disciplinary investigation into Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus over their involvement in the suspended European Super League project.
Last month, 12 elite clubs joined forces in their bid to form a closed competition which sparked global outrage from fans, players, coaches, pundits and the media.
Last week, the other nine ‘founding members’ – including Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool – signed a ‘Club Commitment Declaration’ with UEFA that saw them agree to a €100million (£86m) fine if they entered into a similar breakaway project in the future.
UEFA released the following statement: “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework by Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course”
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Chelsea are going to be without Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen for tonight’s clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Kovacic has been sidelined since mid-April with a hamstring injury whereas Christensen picked up a tendon problem in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City.
Blues manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed they will both miss the clash against the Gunners and are facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Leicester.
Tuchel said: “Kova is not ready for tomorrow. So his personal race is on to make it to the squad to Wembley.
“For Andreas, it’s better than we feared, much better… it will be also a tough one, but the season is not finished for him hopefully.
“So we have realistic hopes that his latest comeback will be against Aston Villa [on the final day of the season]”
VAN DIJK OUT
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk said he won’t take part in the summer’s delayed Euro 2020 with the Netherlands.
Van Dijk has been out with a serious knee injury he suffered in October’s Merseyside Derby against Everton and wants to focus on pre-season with the Reds.
The star defender told Liverpool’s official website: “As you say, seven months ago I got injured and it’s been a very, very long road. I had to take it step by step, as I have done. Things have been going well, I’ve not had a real setback or anything, I’ve just progressed nicely.
“In this latest stage for myself, I have come to a decision that I had to make: would I be involved in the Euros, yes or no? With everything that is going on, I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the off-season.
“So, the full focus will be on pre-season with the club and that’s a realistic goal, so I am looking forward to that. Obviously I am very gutted to miss the Euros, to miss the European Championship and leading out my own country there, but things have been like they have and I have to accept it – we all have to accept it.
“I think the decision to not go is the right decision in the grand scheme of things. It’s tough, but I’m at peace with it”
HAALAND WARNING
Borussia Dortmund are confident that star man Erling Haaland is going to stay at the club.
Haaland has attracted immense interest from Europe’s biggest hitters, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea among other.
But Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes the Norway international is going to stay and advised the doubters to remember how they thwarted United’s interest for Jadon Sancho last summer.
Watzke told SportBild: “Your assumption is fundamentally wrong: Because there are no conditions from us.
“I have the clear expectation Erling Haaland will still play for us next season. And I don’t worry about anything else.
“I suspect they also know about the contractual situation and our attitude. I’m really completely relaxed here. With Jadon Sancho, nobody believed us until deadline day last summer that he would stay – and he is still here today”
HEATON UPDATE
Manchester United appear close to signing Tom Heaton from Aston Villa.
Heaton is a United academy graduate that never managed to break into the first team due to Edwin van der Sar’s presence at the time.
It’s important to clarify that the 35-year-old’s impending arrival at Old Trafford doesn’t mean either David de Gea or Dean Henderson, who’ve been battling over the No1 spot, are on their way out.
In fact, the agreement states that the ex-Burnley star will be a third-choice goalkeeper
GETTY IMAGES SOU-PER MAN
Arsenal legend Ian Wright claims Brighton star Yves Bissouma should snub a move to Liverpool and opt for Manchester United.
Wright said on the Wrighty’s House podcast: “You look at Bissouma and Bissouma is looking at Liverpool, and we know that Liverpool have had their problems this season.
“If you’ve got to choose between Liverpool and Man United in the current climate, I’m probably going to go with Man United.
“What’s going on at Liverpool is there are a lot of players getting into that 30 age bracket – [Virgil] Van Dijk, [Jordan] Henderson, the three guys up-front.
“You think to yourself, yeah Liverpool magnificent what they have done the last couple of years.
“But you look at Man United and what Man United are on the cusp of doing and it’s a much more attractive proposition right now.
“And I’m not being disrespectful for Liverpool. But where’s the funding?”
KANE RULE HIM OUT
Manchester United are still keeping tabs on Tottenham star striker Harry Kane.
That is according to Football Insider, who claim that United are still after an elite centre-forward even though Edinson Cavani signed a one-year extension with the club.
Kane is among their top targets even though his £100million asking price is fraught with complications.
The Manchester giants have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland
KING JORG
Barcelona are exploring a potential swap deal with Chelsea involving Miralem Pjanic and Jorginho.
That is according to Sport, who claim that the Blues are keeping tabs on Pjanic, who has struggled for minutes at the Nou Camp as he has fallen down the pecking order below the likes of Pedri and Ilaix Moriba.
However, Barca would only entertain the west Londoners’ advances if Jorginho was included in a swap deal.
The Blaugrana bigwigs are very impressed with the Chelsea midfielder’s displays in the Premier League and have launched what is called “Operation Pjanic” in their bid to bring the Italy international to Catalonia
SANCHO LATEST
Manchester United will try and sign Borussia Dortmund ace Jadon Sancho before this summer’s delayed Euro 2020.
United have been keeping tabs on Sancho for over a year and tried to land him last year but their £91million offer was rejected by Dortmund.
But now the Red Devils have the chance to buy him for a cut-price £78m after the Bundesliga giants made a “gentlemen’s agreement” with the winger.
Dortmund’s hierarchy agreed to let the England international go at the end of the season if certain terms are met
RON HIS WAY?
There’s been a lot of transfer speculation involving Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has endured a turbulent season with Juventus, who are likely to miss out on Champions League qualification even though the star forward leads the goalscoring charts.
Rumours have even suggested the Portugal international could join Sporting Lisbon, who he congratulated last night after winning the Primeira Liga.
The 36-year-old’s contract with Juve runs out next year and the club hierarchy have expressed their intent to keep him
BIG NEYM SIGNING
Neymar has issued a not-so-subtle call to Cristiano Ronaldo to join him at PSG.
The Brazilian told GQ France: “I want to play with Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I’ve already played with great players like Messi and [Kylian] Mbappe, but I haven’t played with Cristiano Ronaldo yet.”
Ronaldo turned 36 this year and may only have another year or two of playing at the highest level.
Meanwhile Neymar has committed to Paris Saint-Germain until the year 2025.
And with Neymar being Brazilian and Ronaldo being Portuguese, that rules out the prospect of the pair playing international football together, leaving only one realistic option…
GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS
Manchester City are champions of England once again after neighbours Man United lost at home to Leicester.
Pep Guardiola’s dominant side have now lifted their third title in four years after blowing away the rest of the field.
And the Spaniard believes the 2020/21 season has been the toughest of his five year reign.
“This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other,” he said.
“This was the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way that we won.
“I am so proud to be the manager here and of this group of players.
“They are so special. To come through this season – with all the restrictions and difficulties we’ve faced – and show the consistency we have is remarkable.
“It is relentless. Every single day, they are there, fighting for success, trying always to be better. They have been so, so resilient.
“That is equally true of each and every member of our backroom staff, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our players are fully equipped to take on the unexpected challenges and new routines throughout such a turbulent year.
“Not forgetting, of course, all of the staff across our organisation who work to make this club the success it is.
“Whether that’s been from the offices at CFA or working from home, the efforts of every employee in such trying circumstances have contributed to this achievement.”
Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte is reportedly set to play for Spain at the Euros after repeatedly being snubbed by France.
Marca claims the centre-back, 26, is set to become a Spanish national this week.
And following pleas from boss Luis Enrique, Laporte will be selected for Spain’s Euro squad having never been capped by his country of birth.
The defender was born in Agen, France, but moved to Spain with Athletic Bilbao in 2010.
He spent eight years there before joining City in 2018 for £65million.
And finally, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel insists his players are fully concentrated on Arsenal and not Saturday’s FA Cup final against Leicester.
Tuchel said: “We just have an eye on the players’ workload and on the statistics that we have, who is maybe overloaded on high speed and from that we will decide who is at risk of injury. Everyone who is not at risk of injury will be available for the game.
“It’s not the time to manage the game on Saturday now. Now is the time to manage the game on Wednesday.
“We’re in the middle of a race for the top four and cannot judge games.”
VAN BLASTEN
Marco Van Basten has warned Donny van de Beek being a ‘big boy’ at Ajax is not the same as cutting the mustard at Manchester United.
He told ZiggoSport: “It just shows what a great life [players] have when they play at Ajax.
“They all think very quickly that they are a big boy here and can make it in other countries.
“But in the Netherlands, there is a nice competition.
“In a team like Ajax you are really helped, especially in the No10 position.
“Then you often see that they go abroad and it is a different story.”
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 LEICESTER 2
If it is any consolation to Manchester United fans this has put a severe dent in Liverpool’s hope of qualifying for the Champions League.
Maybe that was the plan all along for the protesters.
Get the game against Klopp’s men postponed leading to fixture congestion that forced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to field a severely weakened side allowing Leicester to get a vital three points towards securing a place in the top four.
Read Neil Custis’ match report HERE.
CONTE THE LOSSES
Inter Milan players have been asked to give up two months of their wages as the club’s financial crisis deepens, according to reports.
The damning news comes just a week after Romelu Lukaku and Co fired the Nerazzurri to an historic Serie A title.
It remains their first Scudetto since Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning side in 2010 and ended Juventus’ nine-year dominance.
Although it is confirmed they will receive their bonuses for the Serie A achievement, they will also be asked to freeze their wages.
Like many big clubs across Europe, their finances have been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Sky Sport Italia, owner Steven Zhang held a meeting with the players asking for their cooperation to help with the financial issues.
GUARD OF HONOUR
Manchester City are champions of England once again after neighbours Man United lost at home to Leicester.
Pep Guardiola’s dominant side have now lifted their third title in four years after blowing away the rest of the field.
City should have spent Saturday evening celebrating their title triumph but were forced to put the champagne on ice after losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea.
But it was just a matter of when before their champion status was confirmed with three matches to spare when Caglar Soyuncu headed home Leicester’s 66th-minute winner at Old Trafford.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
